Title Time: B-Mets taste first division title since 2000 (with photos)

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Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The Binghamton Mets defeated the Bowie Baysox, 5-3 to clinch the Eastern Division regular season title on Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium. This is the third regular season title in franchise history, and their first since 2000.

Binghamton led the entire game in the wire-to-wire win. Allan Dykstra got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run home run against Tyler Wilson. It was Dykstra’s 20th blast in 2013, setting a new career-high. In the second inning, Xorge Carrillo added to the lead with an RBI double into the gap.

On the mound Logan Verrett held Bowie scoreless through the first three innings, but it not come easy. The Baysox put runners on the corners with nobody out in the second inning, but a strikeout and a double play ended the threat. Bowie did get on the scoreboard in the fourth. Buck Britton led off with a walk, and moved up to second base with a Caleb Joseph single. Three batters later, Josh Horton hit a two-run triple to the right field wall to make it a 3-2 Binghamton lead.

That score did not last for long; Travis Taijeron led off the bottom of the fourth with a towering solo home run to left field. It was Taijeron’s 13th home run as a B-Met, and his 22nd overall between Binghamton and St. Lucie.

Hamilton Bennett relieved Verrett in the sixth inning. Verrett struck out eight over five innings, and left in line for his 11th win of the year. Bennett got his first batter out, but gave up a solo home run to Lew Ford to cut the lead to 4-3. Once again, Binghamton’s offense responded in the next half-inning. Wilson walked Cory Vaughn to start the inning, and gave up a single to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Chris Petrini then relieved Wilson out of the Baysox bullpen. His first pitch was to Taijeron, and it was smashed over the centerfielder’s head for an RBI double. Petrini settled down and retired the next three batters, but Binghamton had extended their lead to 5-3.

Armando Rodriguez held the lead with two perfect innings of relief, and paved the way for Jeff Walters in the ninth. The closer worked around a leadoff walk to lock down his 36th save of the season. The save ties him with Tim Lavigne for the most career saves in B-Met franchise history. Verrett (11-6) picked up the win, and is now tied with Mike Wright (BOW) for the most wins in the Eastern League.

Binghamton (81-49) hits the road on Thursday to start a four-game series against the Akron Aeros. LHP Mark Cohoon takes the mound for Binghamton against RHP Toru Murata for Akron.